Device for drying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine



Feb. 11, 1969 s. I. A. TORNMARCK 3,426,526 DEVICE FOR DRYING EXHAUST GASES FROM AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 6, 1967 Sheet of 2 FIG! Feb. 11, 1969' s. I. A. TORNMARCK 3,426,526 DEVICE FOR DRYING EXHAUST GASES FROM AN INTERNAL Sheet COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 6, 1967 x M Tm N V P M m, f w. V J

United States Patent 7,951/ 66 US. C]. 6030 Int. Cl. F01n 3/04; Bold 47/00 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for drying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising a vertical tube with lobed cross section and having an open upper end and a lower end closed by a baseplate having a central inlet for exhaust gases from the engine and an outlet for liquid, said inlet and outlet communicating with the interior of the tube, and a jacket around said tube extending from a point :above said baseplate to. a point above the upper end of said tube so that exhaust gases leaving the upper end of said tube draw cooling air upwards through said jacket around the lobes of said tube.

This invention relates to a device for drying exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine and more specifically to a novel and improved device for the removal from exhaust .gases of steam and other substances which are liquid at room temperatures but gaseous at exhaust gas temperatures.

More particularly this invention concerns a device for drying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine which is characterized by the fact that the lower end of a vertical tube is fastened to a substantially horizontal baseplate having a central inlet for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine which are supplied from below to said inlet, and a liquid draining outlet located laterally of the exhaust gas inlet, said exhaust gas inlet and said liquid draining outlet opening into the interior of the vertical tube, the wall of which is folded so as to present a cross section having deep open folds whereby said vertical tube has a lobed cross sectional area, and that a tubular jacket is secured to the tube and extends from a point above the baseplate to a point above the upper open end of the tube.

These features of the invention and the advantages gained thereby will appear from the following detailed specification in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an axial section of a device for drying exhaust gases;

FIGURES 2 to 4 are cross sections taken on lines II-II, III-III, and IV-IV, respectively, in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 1 to 4 show a substantially horizontal baseplate 1 through which centrally extends the upper end of a supply tube 2 for exhaust gases coming from an internal combustion engine (not shown). The baseplate 1 is secured to the tube 2 the upper end of which projects slightly above the baseplate. Laterally of the tube 2 the baseplate 1 has a hole 3 and outlet tube 4 connected thereto for leading away liquid that has collected on the upper side of the baseplate 1.

Fastened to the baseplate 1 is the lower end of a vertical tube 5. Throughout the greater part of its length the tube 5 has the cross sectional shape appearing .from FIGURE 3. The tube wall thus is folded so as to present a cross section having deep open folds so that the tube has a lobed cross sectional area. At the lower end of the tube 5 the tube wall folds are compressed at their radially inner fold crests and cut off, being welded together along a line 6 oblique to the tube axis. Both the exhaust gas inlet 2 and the liquid draining outlet 3 opens into the interior of the tube 5, as will best be seen from FIGURE 4. At the upper end of the tube 5 the radially outer fold crests of the tube wall 5 are compressed at 7 so that the lobes of the cross sectional area of the tube are constricted adjacent the upper end of the tube.

A tubular jacket 8 is mounted on the tube 5 and extends from a point above the baseplate 1 to a point above the upper open end of the tube 5. The jacket 8 thus radially outwardly closes passages 9 between the folds of the tube wall outside the tube 5. At the lower ends these passages 9 are in communication with the atmosphere between the lower end of the jacket 8 and the baseplate 1 and upwardly open into the portion of the jacket 8 above the upper end of the tube 5. The interior of the tube 5 is also in communication with the portion of the jacket 8 above the upper tube end.

When supplied to the described device through the exhaust gas inlet 2, the exhaust gases flow upwards through the interior of the tube 5 and pass through the portion of the jacket 8 above the upper end of the tube 5 into the atmosphere. When leaving the upper end of the tube 5, the exhaust gases suck air out of the passages 9. The air thus sucked out of the passages 9 is replaced by cold air from the environment which enters the passages 9 through the space between the lower end of the jacket 8 and the baseplate 1. In this way, a continuous flow of relatively cold air is obtained through the passages 9. The air cools the wall of the tube 5 and thus the exhaust gases in said tube so that steam and certain substances initially gaseous in the exhaust gases, but liquid at normal temperature are condensed on the inner side of the lobed wall of the tube 5. The liquid condensed on the tube wall flows downwards onto the baseplate 1 and out through the liquid draining outlet 3.

In addition to the separation of liquid from the exhaust gases the device described provides a silencing effect by no means inconsiderable.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for drying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising a substantially horizontal baseplate, central inlet means on said baseplate for exhaust gases, liquid draining outlet means on said baseplate laterally of said inlet means, a substantially vertical tube having an open upper end and having its lower end fastened to said baseplate with said inlet and outlet means communicating with the interior of said tube, the wall of said tube being folded so as to show a cross section having deep open folds so that said tube has a lobed throughflow cross sectional area, and a tubular jacket attached to said tube and extending from a point above said baseplate to a point above the upper open end of said tube.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the lobes of said tube are constricted adjacent the upper end of said tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Berger 60-30 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 760,493 10/1956 Great Britain.

CARLTON R. CROYLE, Primary Examiner.

5 DOUGLAS HART, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

